Regional Sewer Idea Sparks Interest

February 20, 1986|By Katherine Long of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — Abruptly, unexpectedly, city officials have begun toying with a major shift in philosophy. Instead of dragging their heels on the extension of sewer lines, they may instead go wholeheartedly into the regional sewage-treatment business.

But in the meantime, it appears that the city also may be forced to impose a moratorium on sewage hookups, a move that could slam on the brakes for any development that does not yet have sewage allocation.

Wednesday morning, city officials drove to Sarasota, where they persuaded state environmental authorities to consider a grant-switching tactic that would clear the way for $8 million to $9 million in grant money to pay for a 6 million gallon sewage treatment system. The long-anticipated approval was crucial to plans to begin construction in April, and get the plant operating by July 1987.

The question that must be answered soon is how large a pipe to install from the sewage plant to the wastewater site. If the 14-mile line is oversized, the city would be able to take on sewage needs outside the city, up to 20 million gallons daily. But the city also would have to pay far more than anticipated to build the line.

After Tuesday's meeting, City Manager Richard Simmons acknowledged that the city may face a sewer moratorium after allocations run out in June.

''When we get to capacity, the DER will say, 'No more permits,' '' Simmons said. ''There may be a moratorium. But I think it will be for a short period of time.''

The city has 120,000 gallons of uncommitted sewage capacity left in its two plants, which can handle up to 3 million gallons daily. Plans call for building a third, 6 million gallon plant to replace the older plants, and piping the effluent onto a 525-acre tract near the Polk County line.

Simmons said it could take as long as two years to get the new plant working.

The city might have to place itself on a self-imposed moratorium, said Pat Daugherty, building and zoning director. ''We would be a lot tighter'' with allocations, he said. ''We would use the discretionary category, and commissioners would dole allocations out as they see fit.''

Water and sewer director Brian Wheeler will not say whether he thinks the city can meet the July 1987 deadline imposed by the DER, although he said the city is adhering to a tight timetable. The regulatory agency wants all sewage plants to stop dumping effluent into Lake Tohopekaliga by that date because the lake's ecosystem is suffering from an overabundance of nutrients.

''The city's official line is, we're shooting for the July deadline,'' Wheeler said.

If the city does not meet its deadline, it could face fines of up to $10,000 daily. But Alex Alexander, the DER district manager, said if the city is behind deadline but still on the right track, the DER ''would be very sympathetic to the city.'' He said the agency recognizes there are some things the city cannot control.

Alexander said the city could apply for a permit allowing the city's plants to handle more sewage. ''They need to come forward and talk to us,'' he said. ''In some cases we can increase the flow on an interim basis.''

Commissioners agreed that a moratorium would be extremely harmful to the city; not only would it put a chill on growth, but it also would freeze the amount of money the city receives in monthly sewer and impact fees.

If growth stagnates, the tax rolls also would stagnate, and the amount of money coming in from property taxes would be affected, said Finance Director Jean Bennett.

But commissioners say a moratorium is unlikely.

A number of developers have purchased rights to sewage capacity on speculation, said Commissioner Jimmy Wells. He said he thinks there is a lot of fat that could be trimmed from the allocation list.

For example, he said, Osceola Square Mall has been given 100,000 gallons daily. To need that much capacity, the toilets in the mall would have to be flushed 20,000 times daily, Wells said -- an unlikely scenario.

''It's easy to say, 'We ran out, boys,' '' Wells said. ''But I think there's a lot of fat that the city can recapture, that can be utilized.''

The discussion of a regional system raised more questions than answers. Commissioners said they wanted to take a long, hard look at providing sewage treatment service regionally, and asked the staff to come back with a plan of action.

For many years, the DER has pushed for a regional sewer service in Osceola County. Small, privately-operated package plants are being used throughout the county, a constant source of irritation for environmental experts who say it is impossible to keep track of all the plants.

A regional system is ''a very good idea,'' Alexander said. ''I wish them luck.''